Menstruation is an unavoidable fact of life for every woman, but some women are more bothered by the cramping, pain and moodiness that this time of the month brings with it. Some women are lucky enough to suffer almost no menstrual cramps, while others suffer from painful cramps every single month.
If you are one of the unlucky ones who suffers from debilitating menstrual cramps, you may be able to ease the pain through nutrition. The foods you eat play a big role in your overall health, including the health of your reproductive system. Here are some timely tips to help you ease the pain of menstrual cramps with the right nutrition.
Keep a Food Diary
If you have food sensitivities, they may get worse when your monthly cycle approaches. Foods that normally cause a bit of indigestion could make your menstrual cramps much worse, but you will not know that unless you carefully track what you eat and how you feel.
Keeping a detailed food diary can be a great way to fight your menstrual cramps, or at least identify one of the causes. Write down what you eat, when you eat it and how you feel a few hours afterward. You may find that some of your favorite foods should be off limits until your period is over.
Limit Dairy Products and Red Meat
Even if you are not normally sensitive to dairy products and red meat, you may want to limit your consumption during your monthly cycle. These foods produce chemicals that can make the pain of menstrual cramps worse, and limiting their consumption could reduce your discomfort.
You may need to do a bit of experimentation to see which foods you can tolerate. After all, a bit of ice cream can taste really good when you are fighting the pain of menstrual cramps.
Consider Fish Oil Supplements
Adding fish oil to your diet can be a good idea anytime, but there is some evidence that fish oil can also ease the pain of menstrual cramps. Once again, you may need to do some experimentation to see if these supplements help you. If they do, adding them to your diet can give you a host of benefits.
You can also add more fresh fish to your diet as your monthly period approaches. A natural supply of fish oil is good for your body, and the lessening of your menstrual cramps will be a welcome bonus.
There is nothing you can do to completely eradicate menstrual cramps, but there are things you can do to reduce the pain and discomfort. Eating right, getting plenty of rest and reducing stress can all help to ease the pain, so you can get on with the rest of your life.
